Vyshyvanka is very valuable for me and my family. It is a traditional part of our cultural dress and it was created a couple centuries ago. All of our citizens wear it for special occasions like holidays, cultural dances, and sometimes even parties. Our people are extremely proud to wear Vyshyvanka as their traditional clothing. The name Vyshyvanka means embroidered clothing, because vyshyty in Ukraine means to embroider and -anka means something that is embroidered. Vyshyvanka’s colored designs are embroidered with natural colored threads, and they are usually colored with bark, leaves, berries, flowers, and lots of other things, which also makes it 50% natural and environmentally friendly. In particular areas of Ukraine, embroidery exists now in the 5th century B.C in Scynthian art. Ukraine is also very famous for its very artistic embroidery which is why this item is precious to me.
The reason why Vyshyvanka is important to me, is because when I wear it for special occasions, it makes me feel proud and strong. I am a powerful Ukrainian citizen. Vyshyvanka connects me to my family and my people. It makes me feel like a strong Ukrainian woman that is smart, confident and independent, even though I’m still considered a child.
I was a very little kid when I got my own Vyshyvanka, it was very exciting for me. I remember when I was about 6 years old, and I was getting ready to go to 1st grade. Me and my family came to this beautiful store that sold different types of Vyshyvanka. This was the happiest moment of my life!

 

– YS

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